Wrench



R. BRENNING July 2, 1940.

WRENCH Filed Jan. 23, 1939 vOQQbOOOOQOOO Feuba? B www@ - Patented July2, 1940 UNITEDA STATES WRENCH Reuben Brenning, Cheyenne, Wyo.`Application January 23, 1939, Serial No. 252,459

, 7 Claims.

r'I'his invention relates to wrenches, and has particular reference toratchet Wrenches.

The primary objects of the invention are, to provide a wrench havingoperating means which n 4may be oscillated to cause intermittentrotation `in one direction of the wrench head; to provide such a wrenchwhich may also be operated by lateral swinging movement of the handle inthe manner of the ordinary ratchet wrench and in l-o which, when soused, the forcesl automatically balance so that there is no tendency ofthe handle to rotate in the operators hand; and'to provide such a wrenchwhicir may be compactly constructed of few and simple parts, may beeasily l5 and cheaply manufactured and assembled, and is particularlyadapted and intended for easy and efficient operation on articlesdisposed in ex tremely inaccessible places.

In the accompanying drawing:

section, of the preferred embodiment of the invention; L y

Figure 2, a side elevation, also partly in section, of the device shownin Figure 1;

tion, of one of the vrings or rotary drive members of the preferred formof the invention;

`Figure 4, a detail top plan view of the wrench head or cylinder of thepreferred embodiment of the invention; and,

Figure 5, a detail fragmentary view showing a lever or crank fitted intothe socket of the 'operating handle.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying 35, drawing, thebody orhousing or frame of the preferred embodiment of the invention in whichthe various moving parts, hereinafter described, are

housed or mounted consists of a gear case or housing I formed with apreferably cylindrical open ended cavity, said gear case I preferablybeing annular in shape, and a preferably substantially radiallyextending integral tubular handle casing or housing 3 carried by saidgear. case I.

The bore of said tubular handle housing or cas- ;,5 ing 3 extendsthrough the side of the gear case I,

opening into the cylindrical cavity or bore thereof. Preferably the axisof said handle casing 3 lies at right angles to, and mediallyintersects, the axis of the cylindrical cavity of casing I.

Said gear casing or case Iis formedat either end of its cylindrical gearcavity or bore with means such as radially inwardly extending axiallyspaced annular bearing shoulders 4 and 6. In the preferred form-of theinvention the bottom shoulder `or abutment 4 is integral with the Figure1 represents a top plan view, partly in` Figure 3, a detail top planview, partly in seccase I, vwhile the top bearing shoulder or cover 6 isformed in a separate piece to be applied bysuitable means, such `ascooperating screwthreaded portions 29 formed on said cover 6 and saidcase I respectively, or by spot welding, after 6 the rest of the devicehas been assembled.

Journalledpreferably at its respective ends in said shoulders 4 and 6 soas ,to extend preferably coaxially through the cylindrical cavitiedportion of casing I is a cylindrical wrench head i9 formed l0 with awrench socket 23 preferably extending axially therethrough and being ofsquare or any suitable cross-section, and provided on its exte-v riorcurved sides with longitudinally extending integral ratchet teeth 2|,the ends of said teeth s lidably engaging `or* abutting against theinner faces of said annular shoulders 4 and 6 respec`` tively to preventrelative axial movement of said wrench head I9 in casing I.

Freely rotatably journalled in the gear case I in the annular spacebetween the outside circumference of wrench head I9 and the radiallyinner wall of gear easel are a pair of rings or ring gears 8 preferablyin free sliding contact 'with each other at their adjacent inner faces,their opposed outer faces being in sliding engagement with therespective inner faces of the annular bearing or retainershoulders 4 and6 respectively, it being noted that said shoulders 4 and 6 serve toprevent axial movement both of the ring gears or Wheels 8 and of thewrench head I9` in said gear case I. In the preferred form of theinvention the rings or wheels 8 are provided on their respectiveadjacent faces with sunken preferably bevelled gear teeth 2, said gearteeth 2 being cut into said rings 8 for only a portion, preferably abouta third, of their respective circumferences. vThe remaining portions ofthe respective adjacent faces of said gears 8 are preferably formed fiatand smooth to slidably contact each other and in operation act asbearing surfaces.

Both of said gears or ring gears 8 of the preferred embodiment areprovided with suitable ratchet dogs or pawls I5 having their free oroperative ends disposed in the same direction of rotation to inoperation engage ratchet teeth 2l of wrench head I9 to cause rotationthereof in that I direction, and to respectively disengage said teeth 2|during rotation of said gears 8 in the opposite 50 direction.

The ratchet pawls I5 ofthe preferred embodiment are each pivotallymounted at one end in cavities I3 formed in the radially inner sides oftheir respective rings or. ring gears 8, the free or 55 i operative endsof saidpawls I5 being resiliently pressed into operative engagement withsaid ratchet teeth 2l by any suitable means, such as small helical orcoil springs I1 mounted in said cavities I3. v

The operating means of the invention preferably consists of an operatinghandle or shaft 5 freely rotatably journalled in tubular handle housingor casing 3 and terminating at its inner end with a preferably integraldrive pinion I0. Pinion I0 extends redially into the cavitied portion ofcasing I between, and in mesh with, the toothed portions 2 of ring gears8. Y

The outer or gripping end of said handle 5 preferably projects outwardfrom said casing 3 for a substantial distance and if desired may besuitably knurled or roughened, as shown, to provide a comfortable handgrip for the operator. Also, said handle 5 if desired maybe formed atits outer end with suitable means such as an irregular or squarecross-sectional crank socket 'I to removably receive the correspondinglyshaped end or portion of a suitable lever or crank A, which may beemployedto rotate or oscillate said handle 5 inorder to obtain powerful'leverage and consequent ease of operation.

In order to prevent handle 5` from moving axially too far into thehandle casing 3 so that drive pinion IIJ carried thereby jams the ringgearsor Wheels 8, it is desirable to provide means such as stopshoulders 9 and II on said handle 5 to abut against the end of handlecasing 3 and shoulder I2 respectively of said casing.

Also, if desired, means such as a set screw 25 may be disposed throughthe side of handle casing 3 to extend into an annular groove 241 formedin handle 5 to prevent relative axial movement of said handle 5 in theopposite direction out of said casing 3, or such a set screw may beemployed to prevent relative axial movement of vsaid handle 5 in eitherdirection.

The device may be operated in either of two ways, as desired.

In one` method of operation, particularly adapted for use where the boltor other article to be operated on is inaccessible, and it would not bepracticable due to lack of room to operate in the manner of the usualratchet wrench `by laterally swinging the handle 5, the operation is asfollows:

The socket 23 of the wrench head I9 is `placed over the nut or bolt heador other article which is to be rotated or operated upon. ,Then thehandle 5 is vibrated or oscillated, preferably by means of the lever orcrank A.

Oscillation of the handle 5 and the drive pinion I8 carried therebyinmesh with ring gears 8 causes simultaneous oscillation in oppositedirections of ring gears 8. Thus said rings or ring gears 8 are rotatedor partially rotated or oscillated in opposite vdirections sc that thepawls I5 carried thereby will alternately engage ratchet teeth 2| of thewrench head I9 to cause intermittent rotation in one direction of saidwrench head I9. y

Thus at all times during partial rotation or oscillation of the handleor shaft 5 in either direction one of said ring gears 8 is rotating inthe proper direction with its pawl I5 in operative engagement with thewrench head I9 to rotate the same in that direction, while the other ofsaid ring gears 8 is`rotating in the opposite direction with its pawl I5disengaged.

It should be noted that in such operation by,

lateral swinging movement of the handle 5 the ring gears 8, due to thesimultaneous engagement of their pawls I5 with wrench head I9, tend torotate in opposition to each other, the opposed equal rotational forcesor torques of said gears 8 balancing each other through or by means ofthe pinion I0 so that there is no tendency of the handle 5 to rotate inthe operators hand.

It may be seen from. the foregoingY that the device of the presentinvention, while comprising only a few simple parts,` which may beeasily and cheaply manufactured and assembled, is capable of severaladvantageous modes of operation, and is especially adapted for use in avery limited space.

While the construction of the embodimentillustrated is preferred, thishowever is simply by way of illustration of my invention and it is notessential that the parts be as illustrated.

. More in detail, it is not essential that the illustrated arrangementof pawls I5 and ratchet teeth 2| respectively carried by rings 8 andwrench head I9 be employed, it being suflicient if there be providedapart such as head I8 to -be rotated, elements such as rings 8 to be.oscillated, and means of interengagement between each of said elementsand said part whereby the latter may be given an intermittent rotarymovement in a single direction due to the alternate oscillations of saidelements.

Similarly it is not necessary thatv either of the flanges or shoulders 4or 6 be integral, or arranged as hereinbefore described. All that isrequired is. that some suitable means be employed to prevent axialmovement of the rings 8 and wrench head I9 while permitting the latter trotate.

Nor are the stop shoulders 9 and II, or either of them, essential to thesuccessful operation of the device, though the provision of stopshoulder 9 is highly desired. Y

I claim:

1. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case A formed with an open endedcylindrical cavity, integral radially inwardly extending axially spacedannular bearing shoulders formed at the respective ends of said cavity,a radially extending integral tubular handle casing carried by saidgear. case, the bore of said tubular handle casing opening mediallyaxially into the cavity of said gear case, a cylindrical wrench headextending coaxially through the cavity of said gear case and journalledat its respective ends in said annular shoulders, longitudinallyextending ratchet teeth being formed on the exterior curved face of-said wrench head and slidably engaging with their respective ends theaxially spaced bearing shoulders of said gear case to prevent relativeaxial movement of said wrench head, in combination with a pair ofaxially aligned ring gears rotatably journalled in the cavity of saidgear case between and in slidable engagement with the annular shouldersthereof and also in slidable 75 lll aaoaeoa their circumferences, theremaining portions of said :faces being smooth and in slidable contactwith each other to act as bearingsurfaces, ratchet pawls carried by saidrespective ring gears, the'free ends of all of said pawls being disposedin the same direction of rotation to in operation engage said ratchetteeth to rotate said wrench" head in one direction, and means forsimultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite direc- A`tions so thatone of said gears is always moving in the proper direction to rotatesaid wrench head, comprising an operating handle journalled foroscillation in said tubular handle casing, and a bevelled drive pinionintegral with the inne! end of said handle and extending radially intothe cylindrical cavity of said gear case between and in mesh with theteeth of said ring gears.

2. A ratchet wrench comprising, Va gear case formed with an open endedcylindrical cavity, integral radially inwardly extending axially spacedannular bearing shoulders formed at the `respective ends of said cavity,a radially extending tubular handle casing integral with said gear case,the bore of said tubular handle casing opening medially axially into thecavity of said gear case, a cylindrical wrench head extending coaxiallythrough the cavity of said gear case and journalled at its respectiveends in said annular shoulders, and longitudinally extending ratchetteeth formed on the exterior curved face of said Wrench head, incombination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatablyjournalled in the cavity of said gear case between and in slidableengagement with the annular shoulders thereof and also in slidableengagement with each other and extending coaxially about said wrenchhead, said ring gears being provided on their respective adjacent faceswith smooth portions in slidable contact with eachother to act asbearing surfaces, and sunken gear toothedportions respectivelymaintained in spaced relationship by said bearing surfaces, ratchetpawls carried by said respective ring gears. the free ends of all ofsaid pawls being disposed in the same direction of rotation to inoperation engage said ratchet teeth to rotate said 4wrench head in onedirection, and means for lsimultaneously oscillating said gears inopposite directions so that one of said gears is lalways moving in theproper direction to rotate said wrench head, comprising an operatinghandle journalled `for oscillation in said tubular handle casing, and adrive pinion integral with the inner end of said handle and extendingradially into the cylindrical cav.- ity of said gear case .between andin mesh with said ring gears.

3. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case formed with a cylindricalcavity, radially vinwardly extending axially spaced bearing shouldersxedly disposed in said cavity, a tubular handle casing carried by saidgear case, the bore of said handle casing opening into the cavity l ofsaid gear case, and a cylindrical wrench head r extending coaxiallythrough the cavity of said.V

gear case and journalled at its respective ends in said bearingshoulders, longitudinally extending ratchet teeth being formed on theexteriorand disposed coaxially about "said wrench headr said ring gearsbeing provided with smooth bear-- ing portions in slidable contact witheach other and sunken toothed portions respectivelymaintained in spacedrelationship by said bearing portions, ratchet pawls carried by saidrespective ring gears, the free ends of all ofsaid pawls being disposedin the same direction of rotation to engage saidratchet teeth during.rotation o! their respective ring gears in that direction, and. meansfor simultaneously oscillating said gears in opposite directionscomprising an operating handle journalled for oscillation in'said handlecasing, and a drive pinion' carried by said handle and extendingradially into `the cylindricalI cavity of said gear case between vand inmesh with said ring gears.

4. A ratchet wrench comprising, a gear case formed with a cylindricalcavity and a radially extending bore opening into saidcavity, a cylin-V' drical wrench head mounted for rotation in said cavity, andv ratchetteeth formed on said wrench head, in combination with a pair of axiallyaligned ring gears rotatably journalled in said gear case and disposed.coaxially about said wrench head, said ring gears being provided with)smooth bearing portions in slidable oo ntact with each other and spacedtoothed portions, ratchet pawls carried by said respective ring gears,the'I free ends of all'of said pawls being disposed in the samedirection of rotation to engage said ratchet teeth during rotation inthat direction, and means for simultaneously oscillating said gears inopposite directions comprising an operating handle journalled foroscillation through said radially extending bore, and a drivek pinioncarried by said handle and extending radially into the cylindricalcavity of said gear `case between and in mesh with said ring gears.

5. A ratchet wrench comprising, a wrench casing formed with a cavity anda bore opening into said cavity, a wrench head mounted for rota- Y tionin said cavity, and ratchet teeth formed on said wrench head, incombination with a pair ot ring gears rotatably journalled in saidcasing and disposed coaxially about said Wrench head, said ring gearsbeing provided with opposed spaced.

adjacent faces with opposed spaced toothed portions and bearing portionsslidably engaging each other to maintain said toothed portions in spacedrelationship, and a drive pinion rotatably mount led between and in meshwith the toothed portions of said rings, in combination with a ro-ltatable nut engaging member mounted for rota-I tion vthrough said rings,and means carried byI said rings to alternately engage and rotate saidmember during oscillation of said rings.

'LA ratchet wrench comprising a gear case formed with an open ended`cylindrical cavity; radially inwardly extending bearing shoulders formedat the respective ends of said cavity, a cylindrical wrench headextending through said cavity and journalled at its respective ends insaid bearing shoulders, and longitudinally extending ratchet teethformed on the exterior. curved face of said wrench head and slidablyengaging with their respective ends the axially spaced bearing shouldersof said gear case to prevent relative axial movement of said Wrenchhead, in combination with a pair of axially aligned ring gears rotatablyjournalled in the cavity of. said gear -case between and in slidableengage. ment with the annular shoulders thereof and also in slidableengagement with each other and.

extending coaxially about said wrench head, said ring gears beingprovided Aon their respective ad. jacentfaces with sunken gear teeth fora por-A tion of their circumferences, a bevelled drive pinion extendingbetween and in' engagement with the gear toothed portions of said ringgearsr and ratchet pawls carried by said ring gears im engagement withthe ratchet teeth of said wrench head. l

REUBEN BRENNING.

